Northern Blackwater : Its Scenery, Antiquities, Battlefields. 35 



stone crosses, next claimed attention, as well as Tynan Abbey, 

 the picturesque residence of Sir James H. Stronge ; while on 

 the opposite bank of the river stood Caledon, with its memories 

 of Sir Phelim O'Neill and the days of 1641, with many a 

 stirring tradition of fight and foray in still earlier times, when 

 it was a residence of the O'Neills. Continuing down the river, 

 the Battleford Bridge was reached. It was here that in 1646 

 the Scots' army, under Munro, was defeated by Owen 

 Roe O'Neill, and driven with great slaughter across the 

 Blackwater. One of the most important places in Ulster 

 during the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign was 

 Porlmore, or the Fort of Blackwater, erected as a curb on 

 the power and independence of O'Neill. It was taken 

 and retaken several times, and it was in order to effect its relief 

 that the celebrated battle of the Yellow Ford was fought in 

 1598, in which the English army suffered a crushing defeat at 

 the hands of O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell. It was finally 

 allowed to fall into decay when Charlemont was erected by 

 Lord Deputy Mountjoy, the modern castellator of Ulster, in 

 what he considered to be a more suitable place. From 

 Charlemont onward the river flowed through fertile pasture 

 lands unmarked by any object of interest until it discharged its 

 waters into Lough Neagh, some seven miles farther down, at 

 the village of Maghery. At this point the river divided into 

 two branches, forming a delta known as Derrywarrgh Island. 

 On this island, if so it might be termed, there stood a chimney 

 and part of a gable, being the only remaining portions of the 

 Fort of Blackwater at the river foot, which was planted there 

 during the rebellion of 1641 as a check on the garrison of 

 Charlemont. 



The lecture was illustrated with upwards of seventy limelight 

 views, specially taken by Mr. Marshall, and shown by Mr. 

 M'Gibney, of Messsrs. Lizars. 



A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer brought the meeting 

 to a close. 



